Horn



June 16, 1931.

* H. HUEBER ET AL HORN Filed Oct. 3, 1930 TO \NTAKE MANIFOLD m rm W? "wHG m A. a. ,1 mm 4 U u w 0 Mm Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HENRY HUEBER, OF BUFFALO, AND ERWIN C. HORTON, OF HAMBURG;NEW YORK, AS- SIGNORS TO TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF BUFFALO, NEWYORK HORN Application filed October a, 1930. Serial m.-4se,22a.

This invention relates to a fluid pressure operated horn for giving awarning note or where warning signals are to be given or attractingattention.

Heretofore various types and styles of horns .have been devised forvehicular trafiic,

for boats and other uses, in which the horn or sound producing devicehas been actuated by a fluid pressure above atmospheric pressure.

This compressed air factor has required special equipment and apparatuswhich increases the cost of production, adds to the weight of thedevice, requires a larger space for installation, and necessitates ahigh cost of upkeep. The apparatus commonly employed comprises a motordriven fan for creating a blast of air sufficient to produce thenecessary note or signal in the horn. The motor, being electricallydriven, places an additional burden upon the battery of the motorvehicle which is. now so frequently called upon to function in thenormal oper-' ation of the vehicle. Furthermore, the pressure of theblast of air acti on the sound emitting apparatus of the orn creates apiercing signal note which is unpleasing to the ear and quite annoyingto all concerned.

The present. invention aims to provide a warning signal or horn operableby a reduced pressure and in combination with the intake manifold of aninternal combustion engine for producing a clear, distinct and wellrounded signal note.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a Warning signalwhich is of simple construction, capable of giving a pleasing thoughpenetrating soundor note, and embodying a novel sound wave generatorwhich is set in operation by the flow of atmospheric air that is inducedb a negative pressure such as that derived rom the intake manifold.

The invention further resides in the features of construction and thearrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter describedin detailand succinctly claimed, reference being-had to the accompanyingdrawings, whereim- 'f Fig. 1 depicts in elevation the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the horn.

Fig. 3 is a view of one section of the horn illustrating the mounting ofthe sound wave generator or valve, a portion of the latter being brokenaway for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 depict- .inga modified manner of tonead ustment.

Referring more in detail to the accompanyin drawings, the sound box orcasing 1 is ho low, or chambered and comprises a front section 2 and aback section 3 suitably secured together, as by fasteners passed throughholes 3a. The front section is formed with a tubular boss 4 on which ismounted the trumpet 5. Within the hollow section 2 is provided anannular valve seat 6 having communication with the trumpet 5 and beingpreferably adjustable, as by means of the threads 7, to permit the seatto be adjusted relative to the vibratory valve 8 which constitutes thesound wave generator, as will be more particularly referred tohereinafter.

To facilitate the adjustment of the valve seat the latter may beconnected to the trumpet 5, and by making it an integral part of thetrumpet the ad'ustment of the valve seat is conveniently e ected bysimply turning the trumpet part 5 into or out of the boss 4. The threads7 may project outwardly be ond the boss 4 to receive a jam or look nut 9y which the set adjustment of the valveseat is maintained. The passageof the trumpet, at its inner end, is preferably mergedinto a largerchamber 10 adjacent the valve seat 6.

The valve 8 is resiliently supported with respect to itsseat 6, as bymeans of the radial springs 11 which are shown as four in number andextended under tension from the inner wall of the sound box to the valve8, or a flange 12 connected thereto.

axial extension or hub 14 which carries the flange 12 to which the innerends of the springs are connected. Thesprings there- To facilitate andsimplify the construction the box section readily accessible valve foreserve to resiliently hold the valve on its valve permits bodily movementof the latpulling the valve 8 from its seat ter unguided otherwise inits movement than by the radial springs. Thus the valve is given aspring suspension permitting the valve to have bodily movement with orwithout a tension rocking or tilting motion. Therefore, vibrator 8, 14,is given tensioned as well as guided motion through the springsuspens1on.

In the operation of this horn the chamber 15 is placed in openooimnunication with the intake manifold of the internal combustionengine, as a source of suction, by;opening the conduit 16, whereupon asub-atmospheric pressure will exist within the chamber 15,

6, or permitting the higher atmospheric pressure within the truinpet 5to push the valve inwardly from its seat. The atmospheric air enterinthrough the trumpet and being exhauste through the conduit 16establishes an air combined,

stream past the valve 8 and through the valve chamber 15. This unseatingof the valve tends to equalize the pressures on both sides of the valveso that the springs will return the valve to its seat following whichthe pressure within the chamber 15 will again be come rarefied and thevalve unseat, and then reseat, whereby a series of condensations andrarefactions are produce in the air, with a resultant throwing of theair stream into vibration. The sound waves created by the seating andreseating of the member 8 on the annular ring or seat 6, or by thepulses or vibrations set up in the air stream, or by both ried by thetrumpet passage.

The natural vibration period of the valve, for best results, should besubstantialy the same as the period of vibration of thesound waves inthe trumpet. To this end the mass or body of the valve or vibratorymember is such that the inertia of the valving member produces therequired vibration period.

In our copending application filed March 21, 1931, Serial No. 524,342 wehave described and Haimed this tuned relationship between the'periods ofvibration of the valve and the air column in the trumpet or resonator.

' adjustable, as at 17 the inertia of the rapidly moving bod I andimprove upon the tone of the signal note,

as well as increase its pitch, the springs 11 are given an intermediatesupport, as at 17, the support being convenientlycarried by the boxsection 3. It may assume the form of an annulus or ring, integral withthe box'section, or this tensioning support may be made in which case itwould be made as a'separate part from the box housing. In Fig. 4 oneform of adjustment is shown wherein the support 17 is provided with astud 18 which is threaded through a boss 19, on the box section 3, andthe adjustment is secured by a jam nut 20 engaged on the protruding endof the stud 18.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 the valve seat 6 may be fixed since theadjustment is obtained through the tensioning of the springs. In factthis spring tension adjusts the valve y toward or from its seat.

The sound passage of the trumpet opens through a restricted throat intothe chamber 10 which enlarged chamber provides for a larger availablesurface to be acted u on by the suction, the suction when derive fromthe intake manifold being limited within certain confines. The throatrestriction will her increase the intensity of the pulsations throughthe concentration at this point. lVhile in this description and in someof the appended claims the valve is referred to as normally engaging itsseat when in idle or inoperative position, it is understood that thedevice may operate with'a very slight clearance between the valve andthe seat in normal or inoperative position of the valve and the valvemove from that position in operation to and from the seat, and,therefore, this description and the appended claims should be read inthe light of this understanding.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a source of reduced pressure, such as that whichmaintains in the intake manifold of an operating internal combustionengine, a hollow casing having a. chamber'provided with an exhaustopening connected to the source of reduced pressure by a conduit, arigid annular seat in the chamare modified, amplified, and vabe r on thewall thereof, said casing having an inlet opening establishingcommunication between the outside atmosphere and the chamber through theannular seat, a sound wave generator normally enga 'ng the seat to closethe passage therethroug said sound wave generator being of less diameterthan the chamber, means separate from and resiliently supporting thesound wave enerator against said seat wherebythe soun wave generatorwill repeatedly unseat-and seat to interrupt the air stream through thechamber and produce sound waves, anda trumpet connected to the chamberinlet opening acting in modification of the frequency of the pulsationsset 2. In combination with a source of reduced pressure, such as thatwhich maintains in the combustion engine, a hollow casing having aintake manifold of an operating internal chamber provided with anexhaust opening connected to the source of reduced pressure bly aconduit, a rigid annular seat in the c amber, said casing having aninlet opening through the seat, a valvein said chamber normally engagedwith the seat, and resilient means supporting the valve for bodilymovement from and to its seat, said valve being guided in its movementssolely by said resilient means.

3.-A suction operated horn comprising a .means being connected to thesurrounding wall-0f the chamber, means within the casing for supportingthe springs, intermediate their ends and against the unseatin of thevalve, means for adjusting said sprmg supportingmeans to vary thetension on said springs, and means for connecting .the chamber to asource of suction.

4. A suction operated horn comprising a hollow casing having a chamberwith an annular seat and 'a surrounding side wall, a trumpetcommunicating with the chamber through the seat, a valve having a stemaxial of the seat, resilient means normally holdm the valve on said seatsaid means engag with the valve stem and supporting the valve from theside wall for bodily movement, and means for connecting the chamber to asource of suction.

5. In combination with a source of reduced;-

pressure, such as that which maintains in the intake manifold of anoperating internal combustion engine, a hollow casing having a' chamberrovided with an exhaust openlng connecte to the source of reducedpressure by a conduit, a rigid annular seat in the chamber, said casinghaving an inlet opening throu h the seat, a-valve normally engaged witht e seat, and resilient means supporting the valve for bodil movementfrom and to its seat, said valve being guided in its movements solely bysaid resllient means, the latter comprislng a plurality of coiledsprings connected at their inner ends to the valve and at their outerends to the casing.

6. A horn comprlsmg a hollow casing having an inlet seat, a trumpetcommunicating with the casing chamber through the seat, a

valve, coiled springs extending radialtlly from the valve for supportingthe latter wi n the box chamber, said springs being connected at their.outer ends to the casing, means within the casing for supporting thesprings intermediate their ends and in opposition to the .inner end asubstantially rigid open seat de-..

lineating an air admission opening, a chamber in communication with saidinner seat, said chamber being of larger cross'sectional area than theopening through said seat, a suction line in communication with saidchamber, said suction line being of smaller cross sectionalarea thansaid air admission. opening, a movable closure member for saidair'admission opening in said chamber, said closure member being oflesser diameter than said chamber, meansfor supportin said closuremember for movement in sai chamber and normally in closed relation tosaid air admission opening whereby the application of suctionto saidsuction line causessaid closure member to alternately seat and unseatthereby generating sound waves in'saidhorn.

8. A horn comprising a hollow casing'having an inlet seat, a trumpetcommunicating with the casing chamberthrou h the seat, a valve, aplurality of springs isposed ra-i dially about the valve and supportingthe latter within the casing chamber, and an outlet port from the casingchamber,

9. A fluid operated horn comprising a hollow casing having anatmospheric inlet opening in one side, a trumpet having its smaller endadjustable in the inlet opening and havins 10. In combination with asource of reternal combustion engine, a hollow casing having a chamberprovided with an exhaust opening connected to the source of reducedpressure by a conduit, .a rigidannularseat in the chamber, said casinghaving an inlet opening through the seat, a valve normally engaged withthe seat, resilient means supporting the valve for bodily movement fromand to its seat,-said valve being guided in its movements solely bysaidresilient means, the latter comprising a plurality of coiled springsconnected at their inner ends to the valve'and at their outer ends tothe casing, an intermediate support engaged with each springintermediate its ends and in opposit1on to the seat,and means foradjusting said intermediate support to'vary the tensioning of said sprins.

'11. In com ination with a source of reduced pressure, such as 1smaintained in the.

intakev manifold of an operating internal combustion engine,a hollowcasing having a chamber provided with an inlet opening defining a valveseat within the chamber at the inner side of and about the inletopening, a valve within. the chamber closing outwardly against the seat,resilient means supporting t e valve for bodily movementfrom and toits-seat, and means for establishing an air stream into the chamberthrough the inlet opening, said valve moving from and to its seatentirely within the chamber and closing to its seat in opposition to theflow of the air stream.

12. In combination with a source of reduced pressure, such asismaintained in the intake manifold of an operating internal combustionengine, a hollow casing having a chamber provided with an inlet opening,a resonatorfor the casing, a valve seat with-, in the chamber throughwhich communication is had through the inlet opening with the resonator,a valve Within the chamber closing outwardly against the seat and towardthe resonator, a stem on said valve, spring supporting and guiding meansin said chamber for said'valve and stem, and means at the valve side ofthe seat for establishing an air stream into the chamber through theinlet opening, said valve moving from and to its seat entirely withinthe chamber and closing to its seat in opposition to the flow of the airstream.

7 HENRY HUEBER.

ERWIN C. HORTON.

